The Conservative and the Convict (w/ Sarah Weinman)

Sarah Weinman's new book—Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free—is a gripping true crime story, and perhaps the tale of an ill-fated love triangle. It also is a story about William F. Buckley, Jr., who defied expectations to show mercy to a death-row prisoner, Edgar Smith, after finding out that he supposedly read National Review . In this episode, Weinman joins Matt and Sam to talk about this fascinating, half-forgotten episode from a key period in Buckley's life and career—how Smith and Buckley met; what Buckley did for him; the role played by Sophie Wilkins, Smith's editor at Knopf, in what happened; and the sad ending toward which it all careened. Sources: Sarah Weinman, Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free (Ecco Press, February 2022) Sam Adler-Bell, " The Conservative and the Murderer ," New Republic , March 7, 2022 Christopher Buckley, Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir (Twelve Books, May 2009) Garry Wills, " Daredevil ," Atlantic , July/August 2009 Sophie Wilkins, trans., The Man Without Qual…